Todays offering is a lesser known cut from soul diva Betty Everett. I first heard this played by Dale, early doors at The Riley Smith Hall, Tadcaster. Jo Wallace and I had spun some tunes at the earlier warm up and were sitting on the balcony having a listen when this one made us sit up and applaud. Dale told us later what it was and despite Jo telling him we’d both got it – Oh no we hadn’t!

Betty’s backing singers tell us “She can work a miracle, she can do the impossible” and then Betty tells us in no uncertain terms that she cares so much there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her man.

Click here to listen

Lyrically, this is really good; the first break comes with “I’ll work 8 days a week, work 99 years and still be yours; draw my old age pension at 21!” – she certainly is serious! Later the lyrics highlight the obsession of the time with the space race; “I’ll make the sun shine every night, fill your days with moonlight, we can take a ride to the stars, spend our vacation on Jupiter and Mars!“

A nice mid tempo dancer with tinge of R&B this one is definitely worth seeking out. To me it sounds like a late 50′s to early 60′s sound when R&B merged with Doo-Wop before going to Soul but it was actually released in 1966. Perhaps it was recorded earlier as it is the b-side to the more commercial and typical of the mid-sixties “In Your Arms”.

If your looking for it “In Your Arms” is the side to search for as that is what it gets listed under in the States. Pricewise; JM books it at £75; that seems a tad high though unfortunately US dealers who have bought his guide believe it. I paid $45 for my Ex demo (in company sleeve for those that appreciate them) and they come up regularly on eBay.

Hope you like it and best of luck finding one.

Betty Everett on eBay:

Betty Everett 7 Happy I Long to Be /Your Loving Arms

US $6.49 End Date: Sunday Feb-05-2012 10:44:29 PST Buy It Now for only: US $6.49 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $125.00 End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 9:43:40 PST Buy It Now for only: US $125.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Right, so now my blog is visible from my website, time to move stuff over here.

I’ve been highlighting some of the records I own and am buying at the moment so I’ll start with one of them:

Little Esther – Wild Child – Warwick 610

An early outing for Esther Philips of “Just Say Goodbye” and “What A difference A Day Makes” fame.

Mid-tempo R&B that sounds just right for today’s dance floor. Esther sings about the effect her new man has on her then the chorus breaks in accompanied by driving saxaphone. “Wild, Wild Child!”

Dunno what the going rate for this is as I haven’t seen it before and it isn’t in the guides. Probably paid too much.

Have a listen to it here:

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